Institute of Culture and Aesthetics of Digital Media

Organisational unit: Institute

Organisation profile

The ICAM researches the conditions, effects and aesthetics of digital media in connection with processes of culturalization, the technologization of social and economic relations, and the generation and archiving of knowledge. Our studies reflect on how (digital) media always also contribute to shaping the signs and objects they store, transmit or process in a specific way. At the same time, we are interested in how certain cultural techniques contribute to shaping the usage and areas of application of digital media.

Researchers at the ICAM explore the cultural and technological history of digital media—from cybernetics and the beginnings of the computer all the way to present-day network technologies, from textual and acoustic to visual forms of media representation, and from the classics to current concepts of media theory formation.

Main research areas

The ICAM researches the conditions, effects and aesthetics of digital media in connection with processes of culturalization, the technologization of social and economic relations, and the generation and archiving of knowledge. Our studies reflect on how (digital) media always also contribute to shaping the signs and objects they store, transmit or process in a specific way. At the same time, we are interested in how certain cultural techniques contribute to shaping the usage and areas of application of digital media.

In the different core areas researchers at the ICAM explore the cultural and technological history of digital media—from cybernetics and the beginnings of the computer all the way to present-day network technologies, from textual and acoustic to visual forms of media representation, and from the classics to current concepts of media theory formation. 

The ICAM maintains close institutional contact and cooperates with the Leuphana, e.g., the Moving Image Lab of the Innovation Incubator, the Leuphana College, the Leuphana Arts Program and the Leuphana Graduate School. Furthermore, the ICAM is responsible for the Audio and Video Labs of the Computer and Media Center of Leuphana. 

  1. Published

    Trickkisten: Heinz von Foerster und der Zauber der Kybernetik

    Müggenburg, J. K., 2016, Trick 17 : Mediengeschichten zwischen Zauberkunst und Wissenschaft. Vehlken, S., Müller-Helle, K., Müggenburg, J. & Sprenger, F. (eds.). Norderstedt: meson press, p. 59-84 26 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Trick 17: Mediengeschichten zwischen Zauberkunst und Wissenschaft

    Vehlken, S. (Editor), Müller-Helle, K. (Editor), Müggenburg, J. K. (Editor) & Sprenger, F. (Editor), 2016, Norderstedt: meson press. 118 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  3. Published

    ReClaiming Participation: Technology - Mediation - Collectivity

    Denecke, M. (Editor), Ganzert, A. (Editor), Otto, I. (Editor) & Stock, R. (Editor), 02.2016, Bielefeld: transcript Verlag. 296 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  4. Published

    Der Delfin als Medium. Formation und Imagination in John C Lillys Kommunikationsexperimenten

    Müggenburg, J. K., 2016, Designing Thinking: Angewandte Imagination und Kreativität um 1960. Mareis, C. (ed.). Paderborn: Wilhelm Fink Verlag, p. 185–212 28 p. (Eikones).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Welt-Bilder und Weltmodelle: Resonanz als Metapherntechnik und Technikmetapher

    Görlich, C., 2017, Resonanzen und Dissonanzen: Hartmut Rosas kritische Theorie in der Diskussion. Peters, C. H. & Schulz, P. (eds.). Bielefeld: transcript Verlag, p. 271-290 20 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearch

  6. Published

    Introduction

    Borrelli, A., 2017, The Optics of Giambattista Della Porta (ca. 1535–1615): A Reassessment. Borrelli, A., Hon, G. & Zik, Y. (eds.). Springer Nature AG, p. 1-10 10 p. (Archimedes; vol. 44).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  7. Published

    Optical Diagrams as “Paper Tools”: Della Porta’s Analysis of Biconvex Lenses from De refractione to De telescopio

    Borrelli, A., 2017, The Optics of Giambattista Della Porta (ca. 1535–1615). Borrelli, A., Hon, G. & Zik, Y. (eds.). Cham: Springer Nature AG, p. 57-96 40 p. (Archimedes; vol. 44).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  8. Published

    Computer Game Worlds

    Pias, C., 2017, Zürich: Diaphanes Verlag. 355 p. (sequenzia)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Gespenster des Wissens

    Holl, U. (Editor), Pias, C. (Editor) & Wolf, B. (Editor), 2017, Zürich: Diaphanes Verlag. 440 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesTransfer

  10. Published

    On cosmotechnics: For a renewed relaton between technology and nature in the anthropocene

    Hui, Y., 2017, In: Techne: Research in Philosophy and Technology. 21, 2-3, p. 319-341 23 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review